by Amy Sumida
“I told you; I didn't know they were friends of Vervain,” Ninkasi protested. “How could I? It's not like I check credentials at the door. They were just some random vampires.”
“Then why did you let them into our level of the club?” He persisted.
“Because they're vampires,” she said in a duh tone. “Vampires are demigods; they had every right to be there.”
There was a pregnant silence as we crept closer.
“I truly wish you'd be more forthcoming.” Marduk sighed heavily. “I like you, Ninkasi. I don't want to hurt you.”
“Save it, Marduk. We both know that you enjoy giving pain. Whether you like me or not hardly matters.”
Marduk chuckled. “Perhaps. Still, I'd prefer to have the Godhunter strapped to my chair than you. Why don't you tell me where she is, and we can make a trade?”
“Let's go!” Sin hissed and dropped his invisibility.
Invisibility works well with humans but most gods could sense the energy of another god if they knew to look for it. So, once we started fighting and gave ourselves away, it would become useless. Still, I held onto mine until I stood right behind Marduk; I'd take every last second of advantage that I could get.
Marduk had Ninkasi in a heavy, wooden chair with metal bands at wrists and ankles. It looked well-used if you catch my drift, the wood stained dark with blood and getting more stained by the moment. Ninka didn't try to fight her restraints but sat calmly facing off with Marduk, looking regal despite her bedraggled and beaten state. A cut in her lip had congealed but there were several slices on her upper arms, bleeding through her long sleeves.
Marduk looked impeccable in a pair of tan slacks and a cotton button-down shirt. Correction; he would have looked impeccable if not for the bloodstains all over his white shirt. Despite that, the rest of him looked polished. His walnut hair swept back from his stern but handsome face to fall to his shoulders in gentle waves, not a single hair out of place. Fire flashed in Marduk's dark eyes as he leaned in to confront Ninkasi, one hand holding a wicked blade. It really was too bad about him being such an utter asshole; he was a good looking man.
Around Marduk and Ninka stood a few more Mesopotamian gods, but they looked less interested in the torture than Marduk. In fact, some of them looked downright disgusted. Despite their distaste, none of them tried to help Ninkasi as Marduk set his blade against the place where her ear met her head.
“Speak of the Devil and she doth appear,” I whispered in Marduk's ear.
Marduk swung about, his blade slicing through the air as he turned. The rest of our team moved in, rushing toward the other gods. Sin went straight for Ninkasi. Marduk's blade went wide, and I ducked below it, but he sensed me and struck out with his other hand, snatching the front of my leather vest, his fingers slipping into my cleavage. He sneered at me as I let go of my invisibility; there was no point for it now, and I wanted him to see me if I made a scornful expression. What's the point of rolling your eyes if no one can see you?
“I knew you'd come for her,” Marduk hissed. “And I knew that fucking traitor would bring you straight to us.”
Marduk yanked me against him, my belly slapping something hard on his chest. Something made of stone. Breath froze in my throat and that knot in my belly trembled. The Tablet of Destinies; Marduk was wearing it beneath his shirt. It hadn't worked on me when I was the Dark Star because I didn't have a destiny. But now, I did.
Marduk grinned wickedly, but he didn't try to use the tablet on me. The last time he had, it hadn't worked so he likely believed that I was still immune. The Tablet's power zinged inside the stone, vibrating straight through my leather. Knowing it was there had paralyzed me at first, but Marduk's malicious expression jolted me out of my shock. I lifted my hand as I shifted it into a claw, intending to slash it across Marduk's neck and take care of this bastard once and for all.
As my claws lowered, something flashed between us. Blinding light so powerful that it sent both of us tumbling backward, and I only managed to slice open Marduk's cheek. Marduk howled in pain and the scent of blood teased my nose, but I was too winded to appreciate either result. I landed in a heap, a feeling like electricity jolting through me. I could only watch in a daze as Marduk stumbled toward me. But Viper swept in and blasted Marduk with starlight before he could reach me. I rolled to my feet with a groan, my ears wonky and my vision going dark at the edges. I wasn't breathing, but I didn't realize it until my body forced me to gasp in air.
That's when I saw more Mesopotamians rushing into the room.
It had been a trap. I saw it register on Sin's face just as it occurred to me. Sin stared about himself in shock and then looked over at me in apology. Ninkasi huddled in his arms, her eyes furious and rebellious and her hands clenching into fists. I guess a beer goddess doesn't get a lot of defensive magic. The rest of our group punched, clawed, and blasted our opponents, but we were about to be overwhelmed by numbers alone.
“Trace!” I shouted. “Retreat now!”
Everyone glanced at me, taking one brief moment to register our losing position, and then they jumped back, out of their fights, to trace away. I caught Trevor's eye and nodded, silently letting him know that I'd meet him at home, but he wouldn't leave without me. He came running toward me, barreling gods out of his way like a linebacker. I wanted to wait for the others to leave, to make sure that all of my people were safe, but I was scared that Trevor wouldn't make it to me before one of the Mesopotamians grabbed him. I traced away, hoping that he'd follow.
Chapter Ten
We made it back to Pride Palace safe and sound. All of us. As soon as I saw that, I went weak with relief, leaning against the door frame of the tracing room. I had been so certain that the awful feelings I'd been having were about this fight.
“Is everyone okay?” Trevor asked as he checked our ranks.
“All good,” Lucius, one of my lions, reported. “We left at the perfect time.”
“Ninkasi.” I hugged her. “I'm so sorry.”
“Sorry for what?” Ninkasi asked as she pulled away, her dark eyes wide with confusion. “You just rescued me. You're my hero.” She grinned and hugged me again. “It's damn good to see you, Godhunter.”
“I got you into this,” I protested. “You didn't have to help me, but you did, and this is where it landed you.”
“I'll text Teharon.” Trevor pulled out his phone after getting a good look at Ninkasi's injuries.
Ninkasi shrugged. “Marduk's a camel turd. Screw him.” She smoothed back her long, slick, coal-black hair. “And I've been thinking about a change of scenery anyway.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Well, whatever I can do to help, just let me know.”
“I could use a place to stay for awhile.” She smirked at me. “Mine is bound to be overrun with assholes and once you have an asshole infestation, you never get the stink out.”
“You can stay in my room,” Troy offered.
“You're welcome to stay here as long as you like,” I said to Ninkasi. “But you'll have to put up with that sort of thing”—I waved at Troy—“from my lions.”
“I think I can handle a few randy werelions,” Ninkasi scoffed as she looked Troy up and down. “I own a nightclub after all.”
Troy winked at her.
“Fair enough.” I shrugged, unsure who I was more worried for; Ninkasi or my lions.
“I'm just glad you're all right.” Sin pulled Ninkasi into a hug. He looked shaky, as if it were taking awhile for his body to realize that she was safe. “Thank you, Vervain,” he said as he continued to hold her. “I owe you.”
“Not at all,” I protested. “You helped us first. This was just common courtesy.”
“Still.” Sin finally let go of Ninka and came over to hug me. “Thank you. You saved the person that means the most to me. For that, you have my loyalty, Godhunter. Whatever I can do to help you, I will.”
“Thank you, Sin. I appreciate that.”
“All is vell?” Kirill a
sked as he came into the palace with the kids, a towel slung over his shoulder.
“We're good,” Trevor confirmed as he slipped his phone away. He looked over at me. “Teharon's on his way.”
“Mommy!” Lesya ran over to me and took my hand, her other hand holding a towel wrapped around her body. She stared at Ninkasi. “Who's she?”
“This is Aunty Ninkasi; she's going to be staying with us awhile.” I looked at Sin askance, and he nodded. “So is Uncle Sin.”
“You can call me Ninka,” Ninkasi offered as she crouched to speak to Lesya.
“That's pretty,” Lesya said simply.
“And so are you.” Ninkasi tapped Lesya's nose. “I see your mother in your face.”
Lesya beamed. She obviously took after her father, but there were a few subtle features that she got from me, and when someone noticed them, it instantly put that person on Lesya's good side.
“Thank you.” Lesya wrapped her arms around my leg.
“Mama,” Vero growled, a low, wolf-pup rumble.
I laughed and went to get him from Kirill, dragging Lesya with that straight-legged maneuver of parents everywhere. “And this is Vero.” I lifted my damp son in the burrito wrapping of his beach towel. “He can get a little jealous. Just like his father.” I winked at Trevor.
Trevor took no offense, only slid in beside me and kissed our son on the forehead. Vero nuzzled in against my neck and went to sleep, content now that I had him.
“And I'm Zariel,” Zariel declared as she stepped into the middle of our group. She lifted her pert chin and stared at Ninkasi with her hazel eyes, their color enhanced by her caramel skin and the wild, tight curls that fell around her face.
“Zariel is our first Intare child,” I added to make her feel more included.
“You have another daughter?” Sin asked me as Ninkasi bent down to shake Zariel's little hand.
“No, Zariel is Fallon and Samantha's daughter,” I explained. “Fallon is Intare and Samantha is Froekn. Zariel's birth was special for several reasons.”
“Tima,” Fallon came striding down the grand, central staircase right on cue.
“Daddy!” Zariel cried and ran for her father.
Fallon scooped up the little girl and kept coming toward me. “You didn't tell me you were going into battle.”
“I made an announcement and summoned everyone, but I only took a few anyway. It's okay, Fallon, we were fine.”
“I wasn't told,” he insisted.
“I tried texting you. You must have been busy.” Troy gave Fallon a knowing smirk.
“You had better not be thinking what I think you're thinking in reference to my wife, Troy,” Fallon snarled.
“What's he thinking?” Lesya asked me.
“I haven't the foggiest,” I said innocently.
Viper snickered.
“Oh, come on,” Troy huffed. “As if you're not proud to have such a hot wife.”
“Mommy's hot!” Zariel declared.
“Great; now look what you've done.” Fallon rolled his eyes.
“Well, it's not as if it's a bad thing.” Troy grinned.
“And this is what you'll have to put up with,” I said to Ninkasi and Sin. “You two sure you want to stay here?”
“Are you kidding? I'm looking forward to it.” Ninkasi grinned.
Sin didn't look so sure.
“Come on, let's have a drink while we wait for Teharon.” I waved Sin and Ninkasi toward the dining hall. “After he heals you, we can get you settled in.”
“I'm hungry!” Lesya declared.
“Hungry,” Vero mumbled in his sleep.
“And I guess we'll get something to eat too,” I added.
Chapter Eleven
The shivers started later that night.
We were having dinner with the Pride; my men, children, Sin, Ninkasi, Teharon, and me all in the dining hall. My werelions had put on quite the feast to welcome our guests—mainly Ninkasi—and there were platters of meat, veg, and fresh bread set out on the sideboards, wafting delicious scents into the air. A fire crackled in the hearth, adding its smoky aroma to the others. I sat at the end of the table closest to the kitchen, my son and daughter to either side of me, and their fathers hemming them in. Lesya could eat on her own, but Vero still needed a little help. Although, sometimes it was best to just throw food on his plate and pull your hand away before he clawed it, especially when it came to meat.
Personally, I was celebrating our rescue mission; a mission that could have gone much worse than it had. Yes, it had been a trap, but I got a good swipe in at Marduk and we freed Ninkasi without losing anyone in the process; both big wins in my book. Plus, Ninkasi and Sin were now safely ensconced in Pride Palace where their pantheon couldn't touch them. All things to celebrate. My men, however, didn't share my sentiments. While the Intare dined boisterously, my guys were more reserved, often trading heavy looks with each other. Only Viper gave me a supportive grin every time I glanced at him.
Then it happened; a cold, sharp shiver like an icicle in my chest. I gasped as it wrenched through me.
“Minn Elska?” Trevor asked in a low voice as he leaned over Vero's head.
“I...” I took a deep breath, glanced at my children—both staring at me warily—and pasted on a smile. “I'm fine. I just need some air.”
I used the back of my chair to pull myself to my feet then headed down the table. My lions paused their conversations to watch me as I passed, but I waved off their concern. I made it out to the entry hall before I stumbled. Caught myself against the wall. The cold turned into a burn and not the good kind. I was on the verge of screaming or clawing open my chest. I had to get outside. I couldn't scare my children. Oh, Gods, but the scream was choking me and tears blurred my vision. I knew what this was; I'd felt it before.
I lurched through the front doors and across the veranda. At the top of the stairs, I tripped and went flying. Strong arms snatched me from the air before I landed and clutched me to a wide chest. Kirill. His scent washed over me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and started to tremble so badly that I could barely hold on.
“Get me away from the palace,” I whispered in his ear. “Hurry!”
Kirill broke into a run. I heard other footsteps behind us. My men. I glanced over Kirill's shoulder and saw the rest of my men and Teharon chasing after us, backlit by the glow coming out of the open palace doors.
“The children?” I panted.
“Intare are vith zem.”
Pain burst through my chest, and I screamed, my back arching over Kirill's arm. I felt as if I'd just fallen into a scene in Alien; a xenomorph baby was trying to pop its way out of my chest. Too bad I was in so much pain, it would have been a great moment for a quote. My relentless mind supplied one anyway, in the voice of Ash, the robot, no less; I can't lie to you about your chances but... you have my sympathies.
Kirill dropped onto his knees and laid me gently in the grass as I started to convulse. Faces appeared above me, voices blending. It was hard to concentrate with my vision flailing about. I couldn't focus and all I could hear was the rapid pounding of my heart.
And the shattering of my star.
I screamed again. Teharon's cool hands pressed to my sternum, but he couldn't help me. Bonds broke and the spiked trinities of Magic, Blood, and Beasts blew apart within my chest like a thrown shuriken. Gleaming shards sliced through my body as Teharon's magic tried vainly to hold them together. My power trembled, my very cells shivering with horror, and then chaos ensued. My animals bucked out of my control and went wild. Claws tore at my inner chest. Howls and roars deafened me. Metaphysical blood flowed as they rolled together in a vicious battle. Wolf, Lion, and Dragon, all at war inside me.
“No!” I snarled and clenched my fists. “I am in control! You are all a part of me.”
“Breathe deeply, Vervain,” Teharon guided me. “Control needs calm.”
I inhaled slowly, calming myself with the help of Teharon's magic, and my nahual, that pre
cious piece of my mother, took shape. A jaguar with creamy fur and golden spots appeared in my mind. Her eyes held ancient wisdom—ancient pain—but also immense love and reassuring steadiness. She ran around the other animals, nipping at their hides and nudging them apart until they huffed one last protest and went to crouch in their separate corners. The Nahual circled between them and then sat down and continued to keep watch.
I gasped and came back to myself, my hearing clearing just in time to hear Viper's frantic shout.
“Someone tell me what the fuck is going on!”
“It's my star,” I whispered as I opened my eyes.
